Chapter 15

An Ethernet standard that operates at 100 Mbps and uses twisted-pair cabling up to 100 meters (328 feet). Also called Fast Ethernet. Variations of 100BaseT are 100BaseTXand 100BaseFX.

bandwidth

In relation to analog communication, the range of frequencies that a communications channel or cable can carry. In general use, the term refers to the volume of data that can be transmitted on a bus or over a cable stated in

base station

A fixed transceiver and antenna used to create one cell within a cellular network.

BNC connector

A connector used with thin coaxial cable. Some BNC connectors. are T-shaped and called T-connectors. One end of the T connects to NIC, and the two other ends can connect to cables or end a bus formation with a terminator.

bridge

A device that stands between two segments of a network and manages network traffic between them.

A tool used to test a cable to find out if it is good or to find out what type of cable it is if the cable is not labeled.

CAT-3

A rating formally used for unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cables on a network, and is currently used for phone lines.

CAT-5

A rating used for unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cables and is rated for Fast Ethernet, but is seldom used today.

CAT-5e

A rating used for unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cables, rated for Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet, and is popular today.

CAT-6

A rating used for twisted-pair cables that has less crosstalk than CAT-5e cables. CAT-6 cables might contain a plastic cord down the center of the cable that helps to prevent crosstalk, but is less flexible and more difficult to install than CAT-5e.

CAT-6a

A rating used for twisted-pair cables that is thicker and faster that CAT-6 and rated for 10GBase-T (10-Gigabit Ethernet).

CAT-6e

An unofficial name for CAT-6a.

CAT-7

A rating used for twisted-pair cables that have shielding to almost completely eliminate crosstalk and improve noise reduction.

cellular network

A network that can be used when a wireless network must cover a wide area. The network is made up of cells, each controlled by a base station. Also called a cellular WAN.

cellular WAN

same as cellular network

coaxial cable

A cable that has a single copper wire down the middle and a braided shield around it.

crimper

A tool used to attach a terminator or connector to the end of a cable.

crossover cable

A cable used to connect two like devices such as a hub to a hub or a computer to a computer (to make the simplest network of all). A crossover cable is not rated for Gigabit Ethernet.

data throughput

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)

A telephone line that carries digital data from end to end, and is used as a type of broadband Internet access.

Ethernet over Power

internet connection travels through the power.

extender

A device that amplifies and retransmits a wieless signal to a wider coverage area and retains the original network name.

F connector

A connector used with an RG-6 coaxial cable and is used for connections to a TV and has a single copper wire.

Fast Ethernet

ferrite clamp

A clamp installed on a network cable to protect against electrical interference.

fiber optic

As applied to Internet access technologies, a dedicated, leased line that uses fiber-optic cable from the Internet service provider (ISP) to a residence or place of business.

fiber-optic cable

Cable that transmits signals as pulses of light over glass or plastic strands inside protected tubing.

Gigabit Ethernet

A version of Ethernet that supports rates of data transfer up to 1 gigabit per second.

hub

A network device or box that provides a central location to connect cables and distributes incoming data packets to all other devices connected to it. Compare with switch.

ifconfig

A Linux and OS X command similar to the Windows ipconfig command that displays details about network interfaces and can enable and disable an interface. When affecting the interface, the command requires root privileges.

Internet service provider

A commercial group that provides Internet access for a monthly fee; Charter, Earthlink, and Windstream are large ISPs.

ipconfig

A Windows command that displays TCP/IP configuration information and can refresh TCP/IP assignments to a connection, including its IP address.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)

A broadband telephone line that can carry data at about five times the speed of regular telephone lines. Two channels share a single pair of wires. ISDN has been replaced by DSL.

keystone RJ-45 jack

A jack that is used in an RJ-45 wall jack.

LAN (local area network)

A network bound by routers that usually covers only a small area, such as one building.

latency

Delays in network transmissions resulting in slower network performance. Latency is measured by the round-trip time it takes for a data packet to travel from source to destination and back to source.

LC (local connector) connector

A fiber-optic cable connector that can be used with either single-mode or multimode fiber-optic cables and is easily terminated and smaller than an SC connector.

line-of-sight connectivity

A type of connection used by satellites that requires no obstruction from mountains, trees and tall buildings from the satellite dish to the satellite.

loopback plug

A device used to test a port in a computer of other device to make sure the port is working and might also test the throughput or speed of the port.

MAN (metropolitan area network)

A type of network that covers a large city or campus.

mobile hotspot

Created by a mobile device so that other devices or computers can connect by Wi-Fi to the device and on to the Internet.

MT-RJ connector

A type of connector used by fiber-optic cables and can be used with either single-mode or multimode fiber-optic cables and is more difficult to connect than the smaller LC connector.

nbstat (NetBIOS over TCP/IP statistics)

A Windows TCP/IP command that is used to display statistics about the NetBT protocol.

net localgroup

A Window TCP/IP command that adds, displays, or modifies local user groups.

net use

A Windows TCP/IP command that connects or disconnects a computer from a shared resource or can display information about connections.

net user

A Windows TCP/IP command used to manage user accounts.

netdom (network domain)

A Windows TCP/IP command that allows administrators to manage Active Directory domains andtrust relationships for Windows Serer from the command prompt on the server or remotely from a Windows 7/8 workstations.

netstat (network statistics)

A Windows TCP/IP command that gives statistics about TCP/IP and network activity and includes several parameters.

network multimeter

A multifunctional tool that can test network connections, cables, ports and network adapters

nslookup (namespace lookup)

A TCP/IP command that lets you read information from the Internet namespace by requesting information about domain name resolutions from the DNS server's zone data.

PAN (personal area network)

A small network consisting of personal devices at close range; the devices can include smart phones, PDAs and laptop computers.

patch cable

patch panel

A device that provides multiple network ports for cables that converge in one location such as an electrical closet or server room.

ping (Packet InterNet Groper)

A TCP/IP command used to troubleshoot network connections. It verifies that the host can communicate with another host on the network. Stands for Packet InterNet Groper.

plenum

The area between floors of a building.

PoE injector

A device that adds power to an Ethernet cable so the cable can provide power to a device.

Power over Ethernet (PoE)

A feature that might be available on high-end wired network adapters that allows power to be transmitted over Ethernet cable to remote devices.

powerline networking

A technique to allow Ethernet transmissions over power lines. A powerline adapter is plugged into the electrical circuit at both ends and the adapters connect to the Ethernet network.

punchdown tool

A tool used to punch individual wires from a network cable into their slots to terminate the cable.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride)

The product used to cover Ethernet cables that is not sage to be used in a plenum because it gives off toxic fumes when burned.

repeater

A device that amplifies and retransmits a wireless signal to a wider coverage area and uses a new network name for the rebroadcast.

reverse lookup

To find the host name when you know a computer's IP address. The nslookup command can perform a reverse lookup.

RG-59 coaxial cable

An older and thinner coaxial cable once used for cable TV.

RG-6 coaxial cable

A coaxial cable used for cable TV, which replaced the older and thinner RG-59 coaxial cable.

RJ-11 jack

A phone line connection or port found on modems, telephones and house phone outlets.

standard connector (SC)

A type of snap-in connector used by fiber-optic cables and can be used with either single-mode or multimode fiber-optic cables. It is not used with the fastest fiber-optic networking.

shielded twisted-pair (STP) cable

A cable that is made of one or more twisted pairs of wires and is surrounded by a metal shield.

ST (straight tip) connector

A type of connector used by fiber-optic cables and can be used with either single-mode or multimode fiber-optic cables. The connector does not support full-duplex transmissions and is not used on the fastest fiber-optic systems.

straight-through cable

An Ethernet cable used to connect a computer to a switch or other network device. Also called a patch cable.

switch

A device used to connect nodes on a network in a star network topology. When it receives a packet, it uses its table of MAC addresses to decide where to send the packets.

T568A

Standards for wiring twisted-pair network cabling and RJ-45 connectors and have the green pair connect to pins 1 and 2 and the orange pair connected to pins 3 and 6.

T568B

Standards for wiring twisted-pair network cabling and RJ-45 connectors and have the orange pair connect to pins 1 and 2 and the green pair connected to pins 3 and 6.

tether

To connect a mobile device with a cellular connection to the Internet to a computer so that the computer can access the Internet by way of the mobile device.

tone probe

A two-part kit that is used to find cables in the walls of a building, Also called a toner probe.

toner probe

tracert (trace route)

A TCP/IP command that enables you to resolve a connectivity problem when attempting to reach a destination host such as a website.

twisted-pair cabling

Cabling, such as a network cable, that uses pairs of wires twisted together to reduce crosstalk.

unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable

The most popular cabling method for local networks and is the least expensive and is commonly used on LANs. The cable is made of twisted pairs of wires and is not surrounded by shielding.

WAN (wide area network)

A network or group of networks that span a large geographical area.

Wi-Fi analyzer

Hardware and/or software that monitors a Wi-Fi network to detect devices not authorized to use the network, identify attempts to hack transmissions, or detect performance and security vulnerabilities.

wire stripper

A tool use when terminating a cable. The tool cuts away the plastic jacket or coating around the wires in a cable so that a connector can be installed on the end of the cable.

wireless LAN (WLAN)

A type of LAN that does not use wires or cables to create connections, but instead transmits data over radio or infrared waves.